Michael Page wants to take ‘more risks’ in fights following UFC Paris snoozefest – ‘Fans deserve mor
“MVP” knows he left fans wanting more (again).
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight — and occasional Welterweight — Michael Page scored a forgettable unanimous decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev in UFC Paris’ “Featured Fight” yesterday (Sat., Sept. 5, 2026) inside Accor Arena in Paris, France.
On paper, Page’s UFC run has been undeniably successful.
The former Bellator standout is 5-1 inside the Octagon, with his only loss coming against Ian Machado Garry in an extremely competitive fight. However, all six of Page’s UFC appearances have gone to the judges’ scorecards, and he has landed just 39 significant strikes across his two most recent outings.
In other words, the results have been good, but the entertainment value has often been brutal.
UFC Paris also marked the final fight on Page’s current contract, leaving his future with the promotion uncertain. A 5-1 record would typically make a new deal an easy decision, but there is big chance he gets released next week.
If UFC decides to bring him back, “MVP” plans to make some significant changes.
“The frustrating thing is that I feel great, which sometimes means I haven’t done enough, and the results show that I haven’t done enough,” Page told UFC.com after his fight. “I probably need to push myself a little bit more and take a few more risks.”
“Sometimes, I want it to be too clean and too precise. I just know there’s more, and it’s frustrating because when I get to the cage, I feel like I’m holding back. I want to give more. The fans deserve more, UFC deserves more. I know I can give more, and I feel like I’m almost there.”
Page’s unorthodox movement and counterstriking have made him one of the most difficult fighters in the promotion to hit cleanly. That same patient approach has also produced long stretches of inactivity when opponents refuse to chase him.
“There is no one in the world who can strike with me, but then again, there are too many people who can survive with me,” Page added. “That’s the problem. That’s what I need to change. My output needs to change. I need to take a lot more risks. I need to doctor my style and do more — adapt it so people feel more comfortable coming forward.”
At least Page recognizes the problem.
Unfortunately, he has now had six UFC fights to increase his output, and his cautious, counter-heavy style remains largely unchanged from the one he used throughout his decade-long Bellator run. Whether he can suddenly become a more aggressive finisher without sacrificing what makes him so difficult to beat remains to be seen.
Page is riding a four-fight winning streak, so UFC could certainly decide that his name value and ability outweigh his entertainment issues.
If not, several new promotions are preparing to enter the market.
Or … there is always Karate Combat, I suppose.
For now, Page has identified the problem. His next challenge is proving that he can actually fix it.
For complete UFC Paris results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.